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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Replacement seal for early tie rod end.

I noted, today, that I do not have rubber seals on my tie rod ends.
I seem to remember have an issue sit this long ago.
I believe I damaged the old ones using a pickle fork and could not obtain replacements.
These appear to be the "Old Stile" ends.

Looking at both Abingdon and Moss I do not fined replacement rubber seals available.
Searching the files I find that the now ends, from Moss are without grease fittings and may have fitment issues.

I have not called Abingdon yet.

My first choice would be new seals.
Are there any suggestions?


Jim B.


Jim B in NJ

Abingdon Spares, 23-061, Boot and Clip, $5.75 And they show used inner and outer caps for the old style, 23- 024 and 025. Bud
Bud Krueger


Thanks bud but the part I would need is 23-026 not listed.

The 23-061 is , I believe, for the new(er) style tie rod end.

I am almost resigned to calling them tomorrow and ordering a pair of new ones and some new bellows. I note that my brand new (30 year old, but) unused bellows are starting to crack.
As luck would have it, I seem to have put the large end clamps on so I cant get to them easily.

There was no body on the car when I did it.

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

If memory is correct, the "seal" was just a flat thicks/square in section O-ring that went between the ball stud and the lower most washer. There never was a true seal pr boot that covered the rest. Likely why they were suppose to be lubricated so often.
George Butz

Thanks George.
I will talk to Abingdon in the AM. If their kit still has grease fittings I will get two. If not I will buy some neoprene sheet and make some since the rubber seems to be well captivated between the two cone washers.

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

NAPA has a variety of boots for tie rod ends.
Check their web site for dimensions and part numbers. I found a pair for my TF that fit perfectly.

Chuck Daldry
:91

Looks like McMaster-Carr has some tie rod boots that would work much like the original cone shaped ones.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#rod-seals/=yoa15w
Richard Cameron


After further review, the McMaster ones will probably be too short in height. Google shows some universal ones from auto parts stores like Chuck stated.
Richard Cameron

I talked to Abingdon today. They do not any rod ends in stick.
They are checking wit their distributor to see if the ones available have grease fittings.

In the mean time, does anyone have a sketch or picture of what was in there?

Thanks

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

Looks like Mr. Daldry's login info has been compromised {again?). Who is
":91, arial small, threadlist".
Same bogus glop others have received here? Webmaster?
efh Haskell

Jim B: I went back and forth with Abingdon last year re tie rod ends. They did not have old style with grease fittings it turned out. They did have replacement boots & I was able to reuse the damaged ends. The new style no grease fitting ends work fine... but it's a move away from original design. My new style ends are in a drawer now, as spares. Good luck with it all. Peter
Peter Pope

Picture or sketch of seal?
Original version!

Jim B
Jim B in NJ

Pre 53 just had a rubber cup that did not even cover most of the ball joint. I doubt many (any?) of us even have anything there anymore. Given the state of rubber today I would suspect these would last a few months at best.

I am not even sure what the intent of this rubber was. Whatever it was it clearly did not work since they drastically changed this for the late cars to a full rubber boot that sealed the joint from the outside.

If you wanted to be original you could probably fabricate something from what you find at an autoparts store and cut it down.

Christopher Couper

Thanks for specifics Chris. The suppliers used to supply what I described above, which pretty much mushed out to form a short rubber cup. I think you could cut off and use a piece of rubber hose to do the same thing. Due to the design, there is nothing (such as a lip or groove) to retain a proper boot. George
George Butz

Thanks Chris

I see now how it works.
I can come up with something.
I just don't feel right with an end that does not have a grease fitting.

Jim B
Jim B in NJ

In England, just a rip in that rubber cup would have meant failure of the annual technical test (MOT) and no use of the car until fixed. These days the cars are regarded as so old that the test is no longer legally appropriate and it is not required, though some still do it for peace of mind.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Jim,
That red suspension looks familiar,,, did you purchase the car in the past few years??
Steve
Steve Wincze

No Steve. I have owned it since 1966. It came apart around 1969.
In 1970 it was shipped to MA in boxes, then to PA in 1976, same boxes.
The suspension was rebuilt in the 1987 time frame when I lived ins Wisconsin.

Now all the new, unused but 30 year old rubber stuff needs replacing again.

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

Jim B,

I have what I believe may be the originals (no way of knowing for sure) from my 55 TF and have provided a few pictures for use.

One is marked very clearly with the number J5908-9/S *5

The seal is marked Lockheed # J6486 Made in England.

Hope it helps.

Dan

Dan Nordstrom

another

Dan Nordstrom

and another

Dan Nordstrom

Dan, yes those are correct for later TD and TF. The early original TD ends don't have the groove/lip that the boot/clip fits in. So those boots won't work. George
George Butz

Found this doing a Google search.


www.vintagevehiclespares.com/product.php/5955274/
Dan Nordstrom

Thanks Dan, as you know by now, they are for later ends than I have. Although If I could get a pair of what you show, they would be satisfactory.

The new ones seem to be without the grease fittings and, to me, do not seem to be correct.

However your very useful post get me thinking.

Yesterday, while going through my piles of leftover parts and junk, I did run across a similar looking boot. Just one. a Lockheed, made in the UK J9989. (First frame of the Attachment)
I suspect this must have come from Moss or Abingdon 30 years ago.

The small hole was 7/16. The lower washer of the two metal semi-spherical washers has a projection that is just about 5/8. I believe the seal should slip over this projection. Trying the rubber on, without the washers, it looked like it might work.

I quickly made a centered punch to open the hole. (shown in the next two frames of the attachment.) When installed, it does not look all that bad. (Last frame)
The washers are inside the boot.

I have ordered two alternate seals from McMaster-Carr. They should be here Monday. If they dont fit any better, I will get a pair of replacement boots for the later version from Abingdon.

I will post my results then.

Thanks

Jim B.

Jim B in NJ

I wonder how one of the kingpin rubbers would work here? Just cut off the part you want out of it.

Christopher Couper

Jim,

It looks very good to me.
It should pass the originality geeks skeptical eye quite well.
Dan Nordstrom

You can certainly get the correct rubber moulding on this side of the ocean. Usually to be found on eBay UK. Track rod end rubber.
Dave H
Dave Hill

The seals I ordered from McMasters arrived today.
Part #4737T7, 5/8 ID, 1-1/4 OD, 1/4" height.

They have a center metal washer and the rubber is bonded to it.

The MG tie rod end outer metal shield, has an extension on it that is a bit larger than 5/8 about 0.660. I needed to either open up the bore on the McMaster seal or reduce the OD of the MG shield.

I could not figure out how to hold the shield. (I should have thought more about it.)I decided to reduce the diameter of the outer shield step. I buggered up one of the MG outer shields, Hopefully, with a lot of work, I can fix it.
I finally made an arbor that is a slight press fit on the ID of the MG outer shield and filed down the step.

Here is what the assembly looks like compared to the WSM.

I think its a go.

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

Does not look like the picture came through.

Jim B.

Jim B in NJ



Sure looks right to me--- I wonder if the 18 X 33mm P/N 4737T18 would fit with out modifying the shield
Richard Cameron

I have to get a set of these. Mine car is incomplete now!

Great find. Star for the day to Jim B.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 26/08/2015 and 01/09/2015

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